Discover the quasi-secret histories of Roy, Elan, Haley, Durkon, Vaarsuvius, and that other guy in this flashback spectacular that shows how the members of everyone's favorite band of stick figure adventures, the Order of the Stick, first met. This Digital Edition PDF is the first time this material has been presented in non-paper format ever, and features revised lettering, bookmarks, and vector-scalable art that looks the same at any magnification. So that's all pretty cool, right?
The Order of the Stick is a Stick Figure Webcomic by Rich "The Giant" Burlew set in a world based on Dungeons & Dragons 3.5 Edition rules (an original world, rather than an established setting) centering on the adventures of the eponymous party. The comic is well-loved for its complicated plot (with storylines planned years in advance by Burlew), its well-executed Mood Whiplash moments, and its own unique brand of humor, often relying on witty banter, sarcastic pop culture references, and Leaning on the Fourth Wall.
The Order of the Stick - On the Origin of PCs
The Order of the Stick was one of the original reasons for the "Giant in the Playground" gaming site, which also hosted the first volume of Erfworld. The GitP forums are almost an unofficial troper forum, thanks in part to the webcomic's distinct appeal to tropers.
The Order of the Stick (OOTS) is a comedic webcomic that satirizes tabletop role-playing games and medieval fantasy. The comic is written and drawn by Rich Burlew, who illustrates the comic in a stick figure style.
O-Chul and Lien reach the North Pole. There, they watch Xykon's party attempt to find Kraagor's Gate, which is hidden behind one of hundreds of dungeon doors leading from a ravine. The Monster in the Darkness marks the doors they have already tried with paint, but when the others' backs are turned also marks other doors in order to stymie their plans.
The Order reaches the North Pole, where Kraagor's Gate is hidden. They investigate the paladins' disappearance, but Durkon and Minrah abscond (against Roy's orders) in an unsuccessful bid to win over Redcloak to Thor's cause. In the ensuing fight, the two dwarves are routed by Redcloak, Xykon, and others; they hide, tricking the villains into seeking them behind one of the many doors, then rejoin the rest of the Order. With Xykon's party close on their trail, the Order take refuge behind one of the doors. They bypass a magical trap laid across the threshold, which proves to be a teleport gate when the villains cross it and vanish.
The comic's stick figure art has received mixed reviews. Some critics praise its "surprisingly expressive art", with PvP cartoonist Scott Kurtz adding that the comic would not be as funny or have as much heart if the characters were drawn in any other style.[58] Time magazine and Black Gate praised the comic characters for their expressiveness,[59][54] even though they are drawn as stick figures. Lev Grossman of Time said that Burlew sometimes "imbues them with a weird epic majesty".[54] Others denounce its simple geometric characters as "merely functional"[53] or (as fellow webcomic creator Jackie Lesnick put it) only "good for someone who isn't really an artist".[60] Burlew has defended his art style several times in public statements, stating he has no lack of proficiency at drawing, but intentionally developed a clean and simple style to help the reader focus on the humor.[27] He has pointed out that the primary goal of comic art is to communicate the actions of the characters, which his style does as well as any other.[27][61][62] Burlew has addressed similar criticisms within the comic itself several times, either by contrasting his usual art with more realistic drawings or by simply putting self-deprecating dialogue regarding his style into the mouths of characters.[n 54][n 55]
Surveys of webcomic site traffic held since May 2007 have consistently placed The Order of the Stick as one of the 10 most widely read webcomics in existence.[63][64][65][66] Burlew has estimated that he has about 650,000 dedicated readers and up to one million additional casual readers.[67] Every day, thousands of the comic's readers participate in the comic's official forums, which feature discussion of The Order of the Stick and roleplaying games in general. Many participants are noted for adopting avatars drawn in emulation of Burlew's stick figure style, with some fans even creating additional "fancomics" in that style on the site's message board or their own sites.
The Order of the Stick received two nominations for Britain's 2008 Eagle Awards, for Favourite Web-Based Comic and Favourite Original Graphic Novel (for Start of Darkness). OOTS won the former category, but lost the latter one to Alan Moore's The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen: Black Dossier.[68] In announcing the results on his site, Burlew stated he was pleased that he didn't win the Favourite Original Graphic Novel category, saying, "I don't think I want to live in a world where a parody stick figure comic beats one of the comic industry's top writers."[69] No Cure for the Paladin Blues, the comic's second print compilation, won a 2007 Gold ENnie award.[70] OOTS has been nominated for ten Web Cartoonist's Choice Awards, of which it has won five. It was named Best Long Form Comic in 2008,[71] Best Gaming Comic and Best Long Form Comic in 2007, and Best Fantasy Comic in 2006, and tied for Best Fantasy Comic in 2005.
On Jan. 22nd, 2012, Burlew launched a Kickstarter[75][76][77] campaign to get The Order of the Stick: War and XPs back into print, which eventually raised enough money to reprint the whole book series.[78] The drive was the most funded creative work in Kickstarter up to that point,[78] getting more than twenty times the original goal for a total of $1,254,120.[79][80][81] During the reprint drive Burlew committed, as rewards for meeting increasing funding goals,[82] to write eight new short stories either about specific characters or in alternative non-canon settings; the characters for three of these stories were chosen by backers as part of the pledge reward.[83]
Like most of the worlds of Dungeons & Dragons, the Order of the Stick universe contains a verifiable afterlife: a series of planes to which dead souls are drawn. The afterlife in the OOTS world is based on the Great Wheel cosmology, with separate planes for the departed of each alignment.[44] In order to enter the afterlife, however, a planar being must assess whether or not a soul has fulfilled the tenets of their alignment properly throughout their life. This fact informs a major plot point, as Roy's quest is launched due to the fact that his father, Eugene Greenhilt, cannot enter the Lawful Good afterlife until his son discharges a Blood Oath that he swore to destroy Xykon.[45]
The comic's stick figure art has received more mixed reviews, with some critics praising its "surprisingly expressive art,"[75] while others denounce its simple geometric characters as "merely functional"[73] or only "good for someone who isn't really an artist".[78] Burlew has defended his art style several times in public statements, stating that it was chosen deliberately rather than due to lack of proficiency at drawing and pointing out that the primary goal of comic art is to communicate the actions of the characters, which his style does as well as any other.[79][80] Burlew has also addressed similar criticisms of his art within the comic several times, either by contrasting his usual art with more realistic drawings or by simply putting self-deprecating dialogue regarding his style into the mouths of characters.[81][82]
The Order of the Stick is a Stick Figure Comic by Rich Burlew set in a world based on Dungeons & Dragons 3.5 Edition rules (an original world, rather than an established setting) centering around the adventures of the eponymous party. The comic is well-loved for its complicated plot (with storylines planned years in advance by Burlew), its well-executed Mood Whiplash moments, and its own brand of humor, often relying on sarcastic pop culture references.
The Order of the Stick was one of the original reasons for Burlew's creation of the "Giant in the Playground" gaming site, located at [1] - it also hosts the first volume of Erfworld, gaming articles, and a shop. The GitP forums are almost an unofficial troper forum, thanks in part to the webcomic's distinct appeal to tropers.
A Roy Greenhilt fridge magnet, exclusive to this pledge drive, shipped anywhere in the world. Plus a digital PDF of the original OOTS story, "How the Paladin Got His Scar," when it is completed. (Note: All of the rewards below this include the digital download as well.)
One "I'm Participating" commemorative patch, plus a Roy Greenhilt magnet. Add more patches to this package (or any higher level package) for $4 each, maximum total 9. Shipped anywhere in the world. (NOTE: This reward will NOT include the coloring book, stickers, or notepad.)
One copy of the Sticky Shticks mini-expansion for the OOTS Adventure game, plus a Roy Greenhilt magnet, shipped anywhere in the world. (Note that this reward will NOT include the coloring book, hit point pad, or sticker sheet.)
Two OOTS coloring books plus a Roy Greenhilt magnet. Add any one book for an additional $30, and/or a third coloring book for $5 (no additional products beyond that, please). (Canada/Mexico orders, please add $7 extra to your pledge to cover shipping; international orders, add $10.) [New reward! Added 2/6/12.]
A pledge-drive-exclusive 8x10 art print of pretty much the entire OOTS cast, suitable for framing, plus a Roy Greenhilt magnet. Add any one book for $30 (but no additional books beyond that, please), chosen at the end of the driver. (Canada/Mexico orders, please add $7 extra to your pledge to cover shipping; international orders, add $10.) [New reward! Added 1/27/12.] 2ff7e9595c
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